A 35-year-old New Bern man was sentenced to 10 to 14 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury.

According to court records, Carl Wesley King had an argument with a girlfriend. After the argument, King asked the woman to drive him to a store. During the ride, King pulled out a pocketknife and stabbed the woman repeatedly.

The woman managed to stop the car and get out, and King drove off. She was airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, where she was treated.

King has been convicted of at least three other felony crimes. He was ordered to pay more than $18,000 to the victim and medical providers.

District Attorney Scott Thomas said violent offenders need to be in prison.

“Our communities are safer when dangerous people are removed from the streets and placed in prison,” he said.